HomeMy WebLinkAboutRead Aloud Book Gr. 3-Lesson 21Jane Goodall is a scientist who travels around the world to learn more about animals.
Goodall began her career working for a famous scientist named Louis Leakey. This was
her preliminary experience as a scientist. Her work impressed Leakey, so he asked her
to organize a trip to Africa to study chimpanzees. To prime her for her trip, Goodall went
to school. Then she set off for her journey to Tanzania, Africa. She stayed there for a
long time.
Goodall went to Africa to study chimpanzees in their habitat, right where they lived.
Nobody had ever studied chimpanzees in this way. People usually studied them in zoos
or laboratories. Goodall’s plan was to live close to their habitat and spend every day
watching them closely. This strategy worked very well.
One of Goodall’s most important discoveries was that chimpanzees make and use
tools. She found this out as she was watching a chimpanzee she called Greybeard.
Greybeard was sitting near a pile of dirt that was a home for bugs called termites.
Greybeard and other chimpanzees liked to eat these bugs. Goodall watched as
Greybeard took a thick blade of grass and carefully trimmed it. He put the grass blade
inside the pile of dirt. When he pulled the blade out, it was covered with termites.
Greybeard then ate them.
Goodall was so surprised! A chimpanzee had used a tool to catch termites. Before that
day, scientists thought humans were the only creatures that made tools. What Goodall
saw that day would forever change the way scientists look at animals.
Goodall continued to follow her formula of watching how animals behaved in the
places they lived. She made many other discoveries about chimpanzees, and she
developed many new ideas. Other scientists learned from her methods and used them as
a blueprint, or plan, for studying other animals in their habitats.
Today, Goodall spends most of her time traveling and talking to people about
chimpanzees. By scientists’ estimations, there are up to two hundred thousand
chimpanzees in the African wild. But scientists are concerned because people are
destroying the chimpanzee habitat. Goodall works to set land aside for the chimpanzees.
She teaches people that saving this land is an important investment for the future.
COMPREHENSION Why did Goodall travel to Africa to study chimpanzees?
Which words help you understand how scientists like Goodall plan their work?
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Clank! Matt looked over at his best friend, Lynn. He was sure of it now: the clanking
noise was defi nitely coming from Mr. Winter’s house.
Matt and Lynn had always been fearful of their neighbor, Mr. Winter. He had a serious
face, and he often stood on the sidewalk and surveyed the whole neighborhood, looking
back and forth as the kids rode their bicycles in the street. Mr. Winter’s house was hidden
in the woods, so no one could see what was happening there.
Matt and Lynn were worried. They talked about all the possible factors that could be
causing the noises, but they couldn’t agree on one. The friends did agree that it was their
responsibility to fi nd out. After all, no one else seemed to notice the sounds.
Together they brainstormed a plan to investigate what was happening. Then they
decided they needed provisions for their adventure, so they packed water, apples, and
sandwiches in their backpacks.
Early the next morning, the friends met at the corner. When the timing was right, they
sneaked into the woods, intent on fi nding the source of the sounds. Matt and Lynn were
almost at Mr. Winter’s house when they heard it again. Clank! The two friends crept up to
the house and hid behind some bushes. Mr. Winter was standing inside the shed next to
his house. He had his back to them. He was holding a hammer.
“What is he going to do next?” whispered Matt.
“I don’t know,” Lynn answered. “I’m not an oracle. I can’t tell the future!”
Suddenly, Mr. Winter turned around. He had heard Lynn’s voice! Matt and Lynn stood
up. Matt poised his hand on his backpack, ready to grab it and run.
“What are you kids doing?” Mr. Winter boomed.
Lynn took a deep breath. “We wanted to see what was causing those noises,” she said.
Mr. Winter laughed. “Follow me and I’ll show you.”
They stepped into the shed and found that it was full of bicycle parts! Wheels,
handlebars, and seats were everywhere. “I’m fi xing old bicycles so every kid in the
neighborhood can have one,” said Mr. Winter. “I used to work as a bicycle repairman.”
Matt and Lynn felt relieved but ashamed. Mr. Winter had such a good motive for
making those strange noises. They never imagined that his goal was to help others. Matt
did not know what to say. But Lynn did.
“Matt and I will help!” Lynn offered.
COMPREHENSION How does Matt and Lynn’s curiosity lead to their adventure?
What words help you understand how Matt and Lynn come up with their plan?
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